Effects of a marathon election campaign

It seems that it is not only tempers that are fraying in Howard's marathon election campaign.

Nor is it only in the Liberal Party camp that unhappy mutterings are heard regarding the Prime Minister's fixation on his own needs and desires.

Small business is also expecting a negative reaction.

According to QBR on Friday:

"Queensland businesses are conscious that a possible change in Federal Government and extended campaign could take its toll on business activity during the December quarter, according to the latest Commerce Queensland — St.George September quarter Pulse Survey of Business Conditions.
The survey found Queensland businesses are expecting business conditions to soften in the December quarter, with the General Business Conditions Index (GBCI) expected to drop to its lowest level since June 2002.
The extended election campaign has had a negative impact on business activity. This can be attributed to reluctance on the part of consumers to make major purchasing decisions in an uncertain political environment."

QBR full article:
 http://www.qbr.com.au/index.cfm?storyid=33271&cp=displaystory&type=s

Things in the electorate of Page ain't what they used to be

On Friday 2 November ABC radio carried a report about the electorate of Page. The incumbent Local Member, a National Party MP, is retiring and not contesting the election.

The report states:

This is a seat that would not normally be regarded as marginal. The National party holds it by a margin of more than 5 per cent. But Labor is strongly contesting it, hoping to capitalise on a changing demographic in the area.

Read the full report at http://abc.net.au/news/stories/2007/11/03/2080830.htm

Interestingly, the National Party candidate Chris Gulaptis doesn't reside in the electorate. How then, can he describe himself as a "local"?

Skinner Street latest front in Page battle - is anybody listening?

"About half way down the street a truck was parked by the kerb. On it were retiring Page MP Ian Causley, the Nationals candidate for Page Chris Gulaptis and Cowper Nationals candidate Luke Hartsuyker. All were busy spruiking on a loud hailer.

About 50 metres away was former Labor leader and Opposition trade and regional development spokesman Simon Crean, Labor candidate for Page Janelle Saffin and Clarence mayor Ian Tiley.

Apart from a small entourage with each group, there was hardly another soul.

It wouldn't have surprised if tumbleweed blew down the street."

Full story in The Daily Examiner today:

http://www.dailyexaminer.com.au/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3754119&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

 

Well what do they expect. It's Jacaranda time and everyone deserves a break from this oh so long election campaign.

The only brightspot was the announcement of Federal Labor's pledge of $1 million to revamp South Grafton's Skinner Street which, along with its big money promise to revitalise Casino, is good news for North Coast residents.

 

It's Jacaranda Grand Float Parade this afternoon - hopefully the candidates won't turn up in their princess costumes.

Campaign Day 20 - halfway madness

We are now in the halfway phase of the federal election campaign and I'm wondering just how many more impossible things we're supposed to believe before breakfast each day.  

I've come to the conclusion that there is a special place in Hell for prime ministers who call six-week election campaigns.

Even the commitariat are feeling the strain. I hear that Janet Albrechtsen is crouched in a darkened room whimpering in the middle of a nest of shredded articles, an unkempt David Flint can be found living in a Rushcutters Bay stormwater drain frightening passers-by by declaiming from Liberal Party press releases in a hollow voice, Sol L. was detained after he was discovered with pith helmet and blunderbuss openly hunting suburban streets for undecided voters, and the normally staid Alan Ramsey is planning to elope with Bill Heffernan.

Federal Election 2007: NSW North Coast candidates & ballot position

PAGE

1	BEHN, Doug	IND	Independent	Self Employed
2	VEGA, Mirian	FFP	Family First	Business Women
3	CULVERWELL, John	CEC	Citizens Electoral Council	Tour Guide
4	MELLAND, Julia	DEM	Democrats	Politician
5	JONGEN, Theo	GRN	The Greens	Health Care Worker
6	SAFFIN, Janelle	ALP	Labor	Lawyer
7	KANE, Tony	IND	Independent	Hypnotherapist
8	AVASALU, Rhonda Joy	CDP	Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)	Home Duties
9	BEATTY, Ben	LDP	LDP	Geologist
10	GULAPTIS, Chris	NP	Nationals	Surveyor

 

COWPER

1	HARTSUYKER, Luke	NP	Nationals	Member of Parliament
2	SEKFY, Paul	ALP	Labor	Small Business Owner
3	CARTY, John	GRN	The Greens	Barrister
4	ARAPI-NUNEZ, Flavia	FFP	Family First	High School Teacher
5	BELGRAVE, Leon A	LDP	LDP	Retired
6	LIONS, Deborah	CDP	Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)	Home Manager

 

RICHMOND

1	FARMILO, Daniel	LDP	LDP	Investor Services
2	ELLIOT, Justine	ALP	Labor	Federal MP
3	EBONO, Giovanni	GRN	The Greens	Editor
4	PAGE, Sue	NP	Nationals	GP, Senior Lecturer
5	McCALLUM, Graham	CEC	Citizens Electoral Council	Self Employed
6	SLEDGE, Scott	DEM	Democrats	Self-funded Retiree
7	RAYMOND, Barbara Jean	CDP	Christian Democratic Party (Fred Nile Group)	Student

Nationals candidate for Page not enrolled in seat he is standing for?

Surname:	*
Given Names:	* (e.g. MARY JANE)
Flat Number:
Street Number:
Street Name:	*
Street Type:	Avenue Circle Circuit Close Court Crescent Drive Esplanade Expressway Highway Lane Motorway Parade Place Road Square Street Terrace Way Other
Suburb or Town:	*
State:	NSW VIC QLD WA SA TAS ACT NT  *

Your enrolled address is 9 MCPHEE ST MACLEAN NSW 2463

Your Federal Division is COWPER

AEC verification link:

https://oevf.aec.gov.au/verifyenrolment.aspx

The information above was sent to me by email.

Does this make Mr. Gulaptis a Nationals candidate who cannot vote for himself? And who does his wife get to vote for?

Kevin Rudd rolls into Coffs Harbour

This week Kevin Rudd made it to Coffs Harbour on the NSW North Coast. How sweet it is to have so many marginal seats on the coast.

The Advocate this morning:
 http://www.coffscoastadvocate.com.au/localnews/storydisplay.cfm?storyid=3753854&thesection=localnews&thesubsection=&thesecondsubsection=

Campaign Day 19

From the number of times in the last couple of days (including this morning on ABC radio) I have heard Chris Gulaptis saying that Rudd's health promises to the Clarence Valley are an 'election stunt', I would surmise that the Nationals have been blindsided by this more generous offer of $23 million.